“I thought I told you not to invite her?” Raymond’s father scolded as he pulled Raymond aside. “What will society say when they see your ex-girlfriend on your wedding day? Why were you smiling with her? Why were you even talking to her?” His father was furious, and Raymond couldn’t afford to enrage him further.
“I didn’t invite her, Dad,” Raymond said, his voice sharp. “She’s the bride’s best friend, so she has every right to be here.” “If you know she’s the bride’s best friend, then why are you frolicking around her?” his father’s tone remained tight, his eyes burning with rage. “Listen, Raymond. I won’t have you misbehave on your wedding day. If you know what’s good for you, stay away from Cassandra. Act like you’ve never seen her in your entire life. If I notice anything suspicious or hear whispers about you being near Cassandra, I don’t need to tell you what will happen,” his father warned, storming away. Raymond clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger. He deeply resented Eureka and this marriage. He loved Cassandra, so how was he supposed to avoid her like she didn’t exist, like she meant nothing to him? “I’ve been looking for you,” the most annoying voice he didn’t want to hear right now whispered beside him. “It’s time for the final dance before we travel. Everyone is waiting for us,” Eureka said, ignoring the venomous glare Raymond threw her way. “This is all your fault!” he groaned, grabbing Eureka’s hand roughly. “Just know that when this is over, we have a score to settle,” he declared, his chest heaving. Eureka’s lips parted, but no words came out. She swallowed and nodded. Her reaction only infuriated Raymond further as he pushed her aside and stormed off. Eureka stood there, her face flushed with pain. “Hey, why are you standing here alone?” Harvey, Raymond’s cousin, asked, approaching her. He wore a warm smile, which lightened Eureka’s mood slightly, and she smiled back. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m fine. I was just…” Eureka’s voice trailed off as she fought hard to blink back her tears. “Whatever it is, don’t overthink. Your flight takes off in an hour. You need to take the final dance and some pictures before leaving. Whatever you need to think about can wait until your honeymoon. Come on,” he said softly, his tone melting Eureka as he grabbed her hand and led her back to the hall. He was the only one who had spoken to her kindly since this wedding arrangement. Everyone else seemed to be against her, constantly reminding her to mask her feelings and pretend everything was fine, even when it wasn’t. It was finally time to leave, and Eureka felt as though her world had crumbled again. She was to spend her honeymoon with Raymond in another country, away from everyone she knew. “Just know that when this is over, we have a score to settle.” Raymond’s words kept haunting her as she changed her dress. “What does he mean by that?” she wondered, her heart racing. As she entered the hotel’s bedroom from the bathroom, she halted at the door, seeing her parents waiting for her. “Come over, Eureka. We need to talk,” her father said, his tone as sharp as always. She moved closer, taking a seat opposite them. “The wedding being successfully conducted doesn’t mean your task is done, sweetheart. You still have to make your husband happy by being a dutiful and respectful wife. Don’t ever do anything that will make him complain. Be as submissive as possible, and always remember that your family’s wellness depends on your attitude in this marriage,” he said, his words tightening the knot in Eureka’s chest. How could they expect her to be respectful and submissive to a man who hated her? “Your husband is your idol, and you must worship him as one. You can’t afford to mess up, okay?” her mother added. “It’s okay,” Eureka struggled to keep her voice from trembling as she shrugged. “I will do everything to make this marriage work. You don’t need to worry,” she said, though her emotions betrayed her as a tear slid down her face. She wasn’t sure how to make the marriage work, but she didn’t want her parents to know that. “Can I go now? I think the car is waiting,” she said, standing. “Sure, sweetheart. Be on your best behavior.” Their words echoed in her mind as she walked out of the hotel room. Eureka took a final glance at her parents before entering the black, balloon-decorated Lexus beside Raymond. Their eyes met for the briefest moment before they both looked away. Eureka was about to mind her business when Raymond’s phone rang. She couldn’t see the caller’s name as Raymond quickly answered the call. “I know. Don’t worry, okay?” he assured whoever was on the other end. Eureka had the sinking feeling it was Cassandra, but she said nothing. “Really? Well, it’s fine. Can’t wait to see you too, though. Take care of yourself. Bye,” Raymond hung up, reclining against the seat with a smile spreading across his face. “Who was that?” she dared to ask, immediately regretting it as Raymond shot her a dark, sinister glare.It was late in the night when they arrived. The room was dimly lit with a soft blue lamp. Balloons, ribbons, and elegant bold lettering proclaiming “Happy Married Life” adorned the wall above the headboard. Rose petals forming a heart shape were on the floor, with a lit candle in the middle. Raymond stood still, taking in the breathtaking view of the room, but to him, it felt awkward. His face held nothing akin to admiration but a sneer. “Why is the room dark?” he groaned, slamming his fist against the wall to turn on the white light. “Why is the room littered? I thought they said they fixed everything. Rita!” he yelled, calling for the housekeeper. Rita rushed in almost immediately, her breath quickened. “You called me, Sir,” she said, her voice faltering. Out of tiredness, Eureka sat on a stool, taking off her jewelry while ignoring her husband’s rantings. “Why is the room littered? What’s all this? Look at the bed. Why are there flowers on the bed? Am I supposed to sleep on
“What are you doing here?” Eureka snapped, still holding the door ajar. Cassandra raised an eyebrow. “Won’t you at least allow your best friend to enter?” Cassandra said sarcastically, a pretentious smile fueling her face. Eureka’s blood boiled at the mention of her being her best friend. “Best friend indeed. You’re not worth being an acquaintance. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, that’s what you are. Now turn around and get lost,” Eureka said, pointing her finger angrily behind Cassandra. “Baby,” Cassandra cried as she sighted Raymond coming their way. “Your little vixen doesn’t want to let me in.” The force at which Raymond pulled Eureka away from the door made her stumble back, almost falling. “Babe,” Raymond smiled, embracing Cassandra with all the warmth he possessed. “I didn’t know your flight would arrive so early. Why didn’t you call me to come pick you up? Hope it wasn’t stressful locating this place,” he said as he broke free from the hug, his eyes bright and his tone chee
Eureka couldn’t believe her ears as she stared at him, her chest heaving with anger and frustration. “I hate you, Raymond,” she muttered, her voice barely audible, her eyes stern on his. “But leaving this room for Cassandra? That’s never going to happen,” she dared him, sitting back on the stool and wiping the tears trickling down her face.“Baby,” Cassandra’s voice broke the tense atmosphere. Raymond’s intense gaze softened as he looked toward the door, where Cassandra stood yawning. “I’m sleepy, baby. Go get my bags from the other room,” she said, walking toward the bed.“I’m coming,” Raymond replied, sounding like the devoted lover he was, before leaving the room.“How does it feel, Eureka?” Cassandra’s sleepy tone vanished, replaced by a sharp, taunting one as she settled on the bed. “I can easily command your dear husband to do whatever I want. The sooner you pack up and leave this room, the better for everyone. This is my honeymoon now, and you’re the unwanted third party,” she
The following morning, Eureka headed downstairs, yawning and stretching. She had slept heavily and didn’t realize Raymond had entered the room she was in. Reaching the living room, her eyes scanned the space. “Rita!” she called out, yawning again. She knocked on Rita’s door, but there was no response. She searched the kitchen, checked outside, and looked everywhere she thought Rita might be. “Shit!” she cursed, suddenly remembering she had locked Raymond and Cassandra in the bathroom. She rushed upstairs, her slippers echoing through the quiet house. Bursting through the door, she froze at the sight of Cassandra sleeping peacefully on the bed. The scene twisted her stomach. She wanted to drag Cassandra out of bed, but knowing Raymond would retaliate, she sighed and quietly closed the door. As she turned to head back downstairs, she came face to face with Raymond, his eyes narrowed and fixed on her. “Your plan failed,” he mocked, stepping closer. Eureka instinctively stepped
“You let her go!” Cassandra wailed, hitting Raymond with her balled fists as she sprang up. “What am I supposed to eat now? Is this what you call food?” she pointed at the eggs benedict with a sneer. “Calm down, babe,” Raymond said, cupping her face with one hand. “Why don’t you go make what you want for now? I’ll handle Eureka later. It’s too early for a fight.” “You’re taking her side!” Cassandra snapped, batting his hand away from her face. “Why are you suddenly on her side? You should’ve dragged her back, pushed her into the kitchen, and locked her there until she made what I want. Why didn’t you do that? Have you forgotten she locked us in the bathroom last night? If you hadn’t broken the door, we would’ve slept there,” she grumbled, disappointment lacing her tone. She had come to make Eureka pay for marrying her man, but if Raymond kept being lenient with her like this, her mission wouldn’t be accomplished. “Alright, you can have this,” he pushed the tray over to her. “I
Eureka sat opposite Raymond in a five-star restaurant, nestled in the bustling city of Paris. Her focus was fixed on the transparent glass, lost in thought. What if she had married the man who truly loved her? Would she have experienced the beauty of Paris to the fullest? Would she be among those who praise the remarkable city of romance? She sighed, overwhelmed by everything.“Eureka?” Raymond’s voice snapped her out of her reverie. She looked at him. “You seem lost. What would you like to eat?” he asked as the waiter waited on them.“Anything you’re eating,” she replied simply, returning her gaze to the glass. Raymond placed the order, and the waiter left.“Eureka,” Raymond called again, this time with frustration in his tone. “I thought you said we should act like a couple to avoid suspicion. Why are you lost in thought? Don’t you like it here?” he asked calmly.“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “The place is nice, I like it,” she added simply, keeping her attention on
“Let go of me!” Eureka yelled as Raymond dragged her into the house. She struggled to free her hand from his tight grip. He shoved her roughly onto the couch, making her cry out in pain.“What do you think you were doing with him?” Raymond snapped, his irritation boiling over. “How could you behave so shamelessly in public? You’re my wife!”His words ignited Eureka’s anger. She shot to her feet, shoving him back and causing him to stumble.“Don’t you dare try to manhandle me!” she fired back. “What gives you the right, Raymond? You flirt with Cassandra and then flare up when I talk to your cousin? What do you take me for? From now on, I’ll flirt with whoever I want, and you won’t do a thing about it. Watch me,” she declared, turning to walk away.Raymond grabbed her arm, forcing her to face him again.“You’re my wife!” he growled through gritted teeth. “I own you, and you will obey me. This is the last time I want to see you with Harvey. Do you understand?”“Pray you don’t find me in
From the day of the slap, Eureka avoided crossing paths with Cassandra and Raymond. She barely gave them a chance to complain, quickly fixing meals and cleaning the house. She had become a housekeeper on her own honeymoon. When she suggested staying in a hotel, her father-in-law insisted they use an apartment he had reserved for them. Now, here she was. On this particular day, she plugged in her headphones, listening to music while cleaning the living room, when her phone buzzed. It was Raymond’s father calling. She hesitated, her mind racing to conjure lies that could convince him the honeymoon was going perfectly well. “Good day, Uncle,” she answered, her tone filled with feigned excitement. “Good day, dear. How have you been? Sorry I haven’t called since the wedding. I hope everything is going well with you two,” Raymond’s father said, his voice full of concern. He had taken a liking to Eureka ever since the day she gave him a ride when his car broke down. He believed she wa
Kaiden sat at his desk, his journal open before him, his hand moving effortlessly across the page. The more he wrote, the heavier the tension in the room became. He couldn’t remember the last time he had jotted anything in his journal, but now felt like the right time—he could no longer contain his emotions.No matter how hard he tried to distract himself, the scene kept replaying in his mind. He didn’t want to believe she found joy in the presence of another boy. It hurt to the core, but he didn’t want to confront her anymore. Fate had decided this—it was nobody’s fault.Many might think it was just infatuation, but he believed in true love. Age had no say in what the heart felt. Even a baby understood what it meant to love someone deeply and wish they could stay by their side forever.Just as a baby cries for its mother’s presence, so does the heart yearn for the one it beats for. As the saying goes, the strongest love is the one that makes sacrifices, not the one that holds on tigh
Raymond sat on his bed in the cell, his eyebrows furrowed like an angry bird, his jaw tight, and his fists clenched. He repeatedly pounded the bed with one fist. Macho was seated across from him, watching him like it was a great show.“She’s too stubborn,” Raymond groaned, slamming his fist harder against the bed, causing it to vibrate. “I really need to get out of here. Macho, we need…”Macho raised his hand, shaking his head, signaling that he wasn’t going to do whatever Raymond was about to ask. “I’m already a jailbird, man. Do you want me to commit murder again?” Macho said. “You’ve already taken enough of that substance. The next one might actually kill you.”“Do I look like I care?” Raymond snapped. “I just want my freedom. I’ll do whatever it takes to get out of this fucking place.”“You got yourself into trouble. Do you know what the jail in NYC is like? I’ve heard there are dangerous beasts there. Since you can’t control your temper, you might be dead before you even get the
Jared entered the house, and his two young kids rushed to welcome him. “Welcome back, Daddy,” they greeted as he lifted them both into his arms. He kissed each of them.“How are my angels doing?” he asked.“We’re good. Guess what, Daddy? We scored a hundred out of a hundred on our tests,” the older one said, smiling proudly.“Really? I’m so proud of my girls,” he said, setting them down on the couch. “Close your eyes. Daddy wants to perform magic.”“Yay!” they exclaimed excitedly and shut their eyes. He held up two small bags.“Ta-da!” he said, and the girls laughed, opening their eyes. They took the gifts from him, pulling out packs of chocolates and ice cream.“Enjoy, girls. Daddy needs to freshen up,” he said, heading upstairs.“You’re the best, Daddy!” they exclaimed.Jared stopped, looking back at them, a sad smile forming on his face. “I wish I was,” he muttered to himself before walking upstairs.When he reached the bedroom, his wife sat on the bed, blankly staring at the wall.
The next day, Melissa composed herself and returned to Jared’s office. She had made up her mind to finally tell him about Stetson. Besides, what was she thinking? She didn’t expect him to hide that the woman she saw the other day wasn’t his wife. What made her think she had another chance in his life?“Jared?” she called as he appeared at his office.“Damn it, Melissa. What the hell is this? Why do I suddenly see you everywhere? Are you stalking me?” he grumbled, clearly pissed off.“I’m not stalking you, okay?” she snapped. “I didn’t have the chance to tell you why I came to your office last time. I have something to say,” she said calmly.“I’m not interested. Keep your words to yourself. And let this be the last time I see you near my office,” he warned. “Do you want to ruin my marriage? What if my wife finds out my ex has been showing up at my office? Stay away from me, Melissa.”“It’s not intentional, okay? I didn’t know your wife was insecure and didn’t trust you.”“Watch your mo
Eureka was in her office, working effortlessly on her laptop, her eyes fixed on the monitor as if her life depended on it. She checked a folder on her desk, then continued. Soon, her secretary walked in.“Good day, ma’am,” she greeted.“Yes, Betty. Do I have an appointment?” Eureka asked, glancing at Betty once.“Yes, ma’am. You have a meeting with the manager of Lords and Ladies Design tomorrow at noon. I also got a call from Crafty Craft Design, but you told me to cancel it. You have no other appointments, ma’am,” Betty explained.“In that case, set up a meeting with—”At that moment, the door flung open, and Mr. Mathews entered.“Excuse us, Betty,” Eureka dismissed her, and she left.“What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Mathews? Why barge into my office uninvited?” she demanded, her voice tight as she glared up at him.“You look even more beautiful when you’re angry,” he teased, walking over. He held her chin and stole a kiss.“What the hell?” She pushed him back, but he didn’t stagger
“What the hell is wrong, man?” Raymond’s cellmate asked as Raymond paced back and forth, deep in thought. “Why are you moping?”He was a burly man with golden-brown curly hair, tattoos on his neck and left hand, and eyes as sharp as a hawk’s.“I need to get out of here,” Raymond groaned. “I need to be with my family. I can’t leave them alone now.”“Are you serious right now? Did you just realize you have a family? When you were committing those crimes, why didn’t you think about them?” the man sneered, sitting cross-legged on his bed, reading a newspaper.“I am damn innocent!” Raymond groaned. The man looked up at him. “I was framed. I’ve never done drugs, never killed anyone.”“You think yelling will make the officers believe you’re innocent and open the door for you to leave?” the man chuckled. “Wake up, man. We’re going to be here forever. There’s no miracle happening soon, so relax and adapt to being a lonely, dejected man.”“Never!” Raymond growled. “I’m not accepting such a fate
Though it had been a week since their visit to the station, Kailani still hadn’t recovered. Everything seemed to be happening too fast. The parents she had known all her life turned out to be her grandparents, the man she knew as her boss was actually her father, and her first love turned out to be her brother. No matter how hard she tried to adjust, things kept spiraling out of control.She was seated on a bench in the school compound, refusing to go to the cafeteria. Kaiden had decided to get them some snacks. A novel lay open in her hands, but she hadn’t read a single word. Her eyes were fixed on the distance, her heart skipped beats, and her stomach churned. She feared what she might discover next.“Kailani?” Stetson tapped her, and she jolted slightly, turning to him.“What’s wrong? I’ve been calling you,” he said, sitting beside her.“I’m… I’m fine. What’s up?” she responded.“I didn’t see you in the cafeteria. Are you sure you’re okay? You were staring into space.”“I’m fine, S
The car came to a halt at the police station, prompting the twins to exchange confused glances.“The police station?” Kailani asked, her heart racing.She had been to the police station a couple of times whenever her psycho mother was arrested for mistreating her. She never liked the place. Though others believed her mother deserved it, she didn’t want her there. She believed her mother turned against her because of her mental illness and the death of her father. She would always cry, begging the police and anyone around to bail her out. At the end of the day, the woman would do worse and get arrested again. It became a weekly routine until Kailani was taken away from her.“What are we doing at the station, Mom?” Kaiden asked.“We won’t be here long. I need to show you two to someone. Come,” Eureka said, stepping out of the car.As they stepped out, Kailani instinctively took Kaiden’s hand, her body trembling.“Are you scared?” Kaiden asked, wrapping his hand around hers, stroking her
Eureka sat facing Raymond at the police station. His right arm was strapped, his left temple bruised, and his lips broken. She took her time studying his face. “What’s all this, Ray?” she asked, feigning sympathy as she reached out to touch his face. He pulled away. “You don’t have to pretend you care,” he said coldly. “Why do you keep coming here?” “Don’t you like seeing me?” She tilted her head. “I haven’t been here for the past two or three weeks. Don’t you miss me?” “You put me here, so what’s the point?” “Look at you, Ray. Why are you always fighting?” she asked softly. “I’m sure your temper is the cause of all this. Do you enjoy being broken like this?” Tears filled her eyes. Raymond leaned closer over the table between them. “I don’t understand you, Eureka. One minute you hate me, the next you act like you care. What exactly do you want?” “It’s true I want you punished for what you did to me, but I don’t want you getting beaten up like this. It’s your confinement I want,